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- Franklin Ernest Leitner was born at home in Geiger Precinct, in Northwest Marion County to Benjamin Franklin and Mary Catherine Conner Leitner on 22 January 1917. He was their youngest child and only son. Welcoming their new baby brother was Alma Kathleen, Caro Elizabeth and Mary Bernice who was the first one to arrive that day.
The twins grew up in a farming community of Shiloh. The area that would eventually become Shiloh was first visited by members of Geiger family as early as the mid-1830s and became the home of his Great Grandmother Mary Nunnemaker Geiger and her children in the mid-1800s. The pioneering spirit was common in the family as his Great Grandparents Jacob and Charlotte Souter Leitner came to Florida in the 1850s and settled in the area that became the town of Anthony.
Ernest at the age of four started school at Shiloh and this two-room school house still stands just west of the Shiloh Cemetery. He then attended the McIntosh School and graduated from Reddick High School Class of 1936. All of his children and grandchildren attended and graduated from the same school that he did which had become North Marion High School.
Giving back to the community has always been a big part of his life. At the age of 17 he learned how to play the piano under Miss Lois Dickson of McIntosh who also taught his children and many of his nieces and nephews. After one year of lessons, he because the pianist and later organist for the Shiloh Methodist Church which was founded in 1880 by his Great-Grandmother Geiger and other family members where he was a life-long member. For over 60 years he was most always sitting at the keyboard of the piano or organ every Sunday Morning. He also served as a Church Trustee. He was in charge of the Shiloh Cemetery for many, many years but as his health declined he turned his duties over reluctantly to his youngest daughter to carry on the tradition of looking over the past generations and our family heritage.
His passion for plants and flowers, especially camellias continued throughout his life. Through the years he and his family have collected over 500 different camellia varieties and species. His philosophy was: if the plant had a bloom it was allowed to live and thrive. He was the happiest when he was working with his plants and he enjoyed them the most when he was able to share the blossoms with others to enjoy. He was also a collector especially of music and books on all subjects.
During World War II, he served his country as did many of his ancestors prior to and after him in every war and conflict since the American Revolution and just recently his Grandson Mark. His tour with the US Army's 681st Ordnance Ammunition Company took him to Italy and North Africa. While in Italy he rung the bells in the Leaning Tower of Pisa and met Pope Pius XVI.
On 20 July 1947 in the Flemington Baptist Church he married Esther Smoak in the church that her Grandfather Smoak helped establish and on the Wedding Anniversary of her Grandparents Hornbeak. His 10 year old niece Inez played the Wedding March. After a honeymoon to St. Augustine they moved into their home in Shiloh next door to his parents. They had three children: Nancy, David Ernest, and Annabelle. This year they quietly celebrated their 56th anniversary.
Throughout the years Ernest farmed and sharecropped raising primarily vegetables. He also worked as a Clerk at the Zetrouer Cash Store and later at Sperry Rand Corporation and Florida Farm Bureau State Headquarters, retiring from both as the Print Shop Manager. He served for many years as the Deputy for Flemington-Shiloh Voting Precinct for the Marion County Supervisor of Elections Office.
As the years passed Ernest continued his work for the church and was most often seen by those who passed by working with his plants and flowers until he was no longer able to do so. He was always there to watch over his Grandchildren, Jennifer, Mark and Robert as they where growing up and helping them with their 4-H garden and sheep projects.
Saturday, 16 August 2003 at his home in Shiloh which was originally the home of his Great Uncle David Luther Geiger, saw the end of an era, leaving behind the present and future generations of his family to carry on his legacy of community service, love of plants, the working of the land and family.
Ernest is survived by his wife of 56 years, Esther Smoak Leitner. His two daughters, Nancy Leitner and Annabelle Leitner. His Grand-daughter Jennifer Leitner Perry and her husband Jason Perry, and two Grandsons John Mark Leitner and Robert Ernest Leitner. His sister: Caro Leitner Hare and twin sister, Bernice Leitner Yawn. Nieces and Nephews: John and Naomi Baird Hare, Dick and Inez Hare Crowley, Leverne and Margaret Nichols Terry, Elmer and Judy Trahan Yawn, Anthony and Clara Nell Yawn Clegorne, Mary Beth Yawn, Bob and Georgia Faye Smoak Morrison, Chuck and Lauren Cornwell Smoak. First Cousins: Eula Zetrouer McInnis, Annie Leitner Grant, Josie Leitner Dunker, Louise Leitner Harris, Eloise Conner Corley, Ruby Conner Sox, Doris Conner Corley, Edgar Conner and James C. Geiger. His constant companions, the Grandfurs: Bartholomew, Sebastian, Alexander, Andrew Jackson and Snowball. Along with numerous Great and Great-Great Nieces and Nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his son David Ernest Leitner (9 November 1991), his oldest sister Alma Kathleen Leitner Terry (18 December 1960), his parents Mary Catherine Conner Leitner (28 February 1969) and Benjamin Franklin Leitner (7 September 1976) and a niece Christian Dianne Smoak (13 September 1985).
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House of Hackett
1917 - 2003 (86 years)